Importance of interplane coupling on the magnetic phases of quasi-two-dimensional tantalites.

We propose a three-dimensional model to describe magnetic interactions in a class of tantalite compounds of compositions A(x)A'(1-x)Ta(2)O(6), with A,A' = Fe, Co or Ni. Due to the quasi-two-dimensional nature of the magnetism in these compounds, experimental data have been previously interpreted using two-dimensional models. These are anisotropic Heisenberg models or Ising models and include competing exchange interactions from different neighbors. Taking into account all the relevant exchange terms, which include interplane interactions, we show that the latter allows us to understand the various low-temperature magnetic phases observed by neutron diffraction in this family of compounds. This is done by studying the eigenvalues of the exchange-interaction matrix in wavevector space for different sets of coupling parameters, of which those relative to in-plane interactions have been obtained from high-temperature series analysis of the magnetic susceptibility. This approach is rather general and the model presented here is directly applicable to isostructural compounds like ASb(2)O(6).

Magnetic phases of the quasi-two-dimensional compounds FexCo1 - xTa2O6.

We report new results on the magnetic properties of the FexCo1 - xTa2O6 series of compounds. Essentially using neutron-diffraction and magnetic measurements we study, in more detail, the low-x limit of the temperature versus x phase diagram, where a new bicritical point is observed. The complete phase diagram shows three different magnetic phases at low temperature, for a high, intermediate and very low iron content. These phases consist of distinct antiferromagnetic orderings, characterized by different pairs of propagation vectors. We obtain information about the intraplane exchange interactions by fitting a high-temperature series of the magnetic susceptibility. Here we improve on a previously employed model, showing that two non-equivalent next-nearest-neighbor interactions must be taken into account in order to allow for in-plane magnetic orderings that are consistent with the neutron-diffraction results.

Bicriticality in FexCo1-xTa2O6.

X-ray and neutron-diffraction, dc magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, and specific-heat measurements are reported for FexCo(1-x)Ta2O6 mixed oxides. X-ray refinement indicates homogeneous samples for all the reported concentrations. The neutron-diffraction measurements reveal magnetic structures with double propagation vectors (+/-1/4,1/4,1/4) for CoTa2O6, and (1/2,0,1/2) and (0,1/2,1/2) for FeTa2O6. The latter remain unchanged in the Fe-rich samples, for 0.46< or =x<1.00, while the Co-rich samples show propagation vectors (+/-1/4,1/4,0) for 0.09< or =x<0.46. The temperature vs x phase diagram exhibits a bicritical point at about T=4.9 K and x=0.46. For this concentration, and at low temperatures, the system shows coexistence of both magnetic structures. This novel bicritical behavior is interpreted as induced by competition between the different magnetic and crystallographic structures.